York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has publicly pledged its support to Helmsley Group’s Coney Street Riverside masterplan.
The business support organisation, alongside its influential York & North Yorkshire Property Forum lobby group, have urged York City Council to approve the planning applications submitted by the York-based property specialist for the scheme.
The positive comments have been formally submitted to York City Council as part of the planning process.
Proposals for the major regeneration project include the creation of 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial, residential and extensive public realm.
The vision also supports the introduction of a boutique, independent retail experience, alongside the creation and rejuvenation of the historic lanes and passageways joining Coney Street and the River Ouse together, helping to make the riverfront accessible to all.
Laurence Beardmore, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “As the Chamber of Commerce, and the York & North Yorkshire Property Forum, we would like to state our support for the exciting and innovative plans that the Helmsley Group is proposing for Coney Street.
“We believe these plans will help to regenerate this part of the city centre in a manner sympathetic to the environment and heritage of our city. It represents a major investment in York that will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike.
“The new riverside access along with retail and leisure destinations will contribute to the continued improvement of York city centre and vastly improve the public realm in the area.
“These plans will also provide significant economic benefits to the city including the creation of both jobs and increased economic opportunities and will act as a catalyst for further investment and improvements throughout the city centre.
“They will also fully utilise currently underutilised buildings and we would urge York City Council to support these ambitious proposals and approve these planning applications.”
Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “We are grateful to both York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and York Property Forum for pledging their backing and public support to our vision for Coney Street Riverside.
“Both are influential groups within York and across the wider region as well as being representative of hundreds of leading organisations and people.
“Their support, alongside the extensive consultation work we have undertaken, is further evidence of the positive way our proposals have been received in the community.
“As we have previously stated, Coney Street Riverside offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the city’s long-held ambition to reinvigorate a loved but sadly under-appreciated area, reconnect Coney Street with its riverfront, create much-needed public realm of national standing and improve both connectivity and accessibility within central York. It builds on our vision to honour the area’s rich heritage while sensitively taking the necessary strides required to secure its long-term future.”
Coney Street Riverside is the latest project from Helmsley Group, which has been responsible for delivering landmark schemes across the city for the last 42 years, including the Old Fire Station, Westgate and Merchant’s Exchange on the Riverfront.
